Combination desk and dining table



June 23, 1942. A. J. LUEBKE. JR

COMBINATION DESK AND DINING TABLE Filed April 1, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l fo VEN June 23, v1942.

' A; J. LUE BKE,'JR

COMBINATION DESK AND DINING TABLE Filed April l, 1940 Patented June 23, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,287,626 Y COMBINATION DESK AND DININGr TABLE Albert J. Luebke, Jr., Milwaukee, Wis.

Application April 1, 1940, serial No. 327,237

(el. S11- 2) 4 Claims.

This invention appertains to furniture, yand more particularly to furniture of the combination type.

One of the primary objects of my -invention is to provide an article of furniture particularly adapted for use in small homes and apartments, Where the usual large dining room is dispensed with, `and where conservation of space is of the highest importance, and which article of furniture will have the normal appearance of a kneehole desk for -tting against a wall, and which can be quickly extended and changed into a large dining table for seating la number of persons.

Another salient object of my invention 'is to provide a kneehole desk having a small table V(of the serving type) nested therein for use indepedent thereof -or in `connection therewith for carrying collapsible bridge supports for removable leaves, 'whereby the small table in connection with the desk `and leaves will form an extension dining table for seating a large assemblage.V Y

A further object of my invention is to provide a combination desk of the kneehole type anda dining table, the body portion -of the desk having removably and slidably associated therewith a supporting and serving table, the serving vtable being of a novel construction for carrying a plurality lof dining table leaves and for forming in conjunction with the desk, means for carrying collapsible bridge 'supports `for the leaves.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of novel means for forming the collapsible bridge supports-and for associating the same with the body of the kneehole desk, whereby said bridge supports will readily fold linto the desk and be normally hidden from View,

A still further important object of my invention is the provision of means whereby Ymore or less of the'bridge supports can be brought into active operation for making dining tables of different lengths, novel means being provided for supporting the intermediate part of the bridge supports' when the device is extended to its greatest length for forming the largest size dining table.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel construction,`ar rangement, and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is 4a front elevational view of my improved article of furniture, Ashowing the same in its normal collapsed position for use as a kneehole desk.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional View through the article of furniture, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction `of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a side elevational View of the serving table slid out and separated from the body of 'the desk.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing the serving table slid out from the body of Ithe desk and the bridge support partly in its extended position for supporting a certain number of the leaves, whereby a dining table of Va small size will be formed.

Figure`5 Vis a transverse sectional view taken on the line 55,-5 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating the `means of connecting the bridge supports with the body portion of the desk.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional View taken on lthe line 6-6 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the means of rigidly securing the bridge support to themovable serving table. 1

Figure 'l isa longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Figure 8, showing the table extended to forma large size dining table.

Figure =8 is a top lplanview showing the article of furniture in its greatest extended form to provide the large size dining table, parts Aof the view `being shown broken away and in section to illustrate structural details.

Figure 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detail, sectional View illustrating the means of detachably storing the leaves under the top of the serving table section. Y

Figure 10 is an enlarged, detail, perspective View ofthe hook carried by the front bridge support `for detachable connection with the serving `table section. f

Figure 11` is an enlarged, detail, perspective View of the hinge pin carriedby the serving table section for receiving the hook ofthe collapsible bridge supports.

vReferring Ato the drawings in detail, wherein similar `reference characters designate correspondingparts throughout lthe several views, the .letter A generally indicates my improved article of furniture, and the same includes a rigid body I5, which is built inthe iorm of a kneehole desk. Thus, this body section includes side frames I6 and I1 for slidablyv receiving tiers of drawers I8,

and the side sections I6 and I1 are rigidly united by a backpiece or wall I9 and a desk top 28.

Slidably associated with the body I is a removable section 2|, which can be formed in the nature of a serving table, and this section includes spaced, parallel, side pedestals or leg portions 22 and 23 rigidly connected together by a cross plate 24 and a table top 25. The pedestals 22 and 23 are spaced a sufficient distance apart to permit the removable table section 2| to be slid within the kneehole part of the desk, and the table top 25 slides under the desk top 20, and this table top carries a depending front board 21, which is constructed to simulate the front of a large top desk drawer. Hence, the front board 21 has connected therewith drawer pulls 28.

The table top 25 and the front board 21 are of a greater width than the space between the pedestals 22 and 23, and, thus, the table top and front board extend beyond the opposite sides of the pedestals. The pedestals and the table top carry a backboard 29, which is arranged in spaced relation to the frontboard 21, and the boards 21 and 29 carry guides 30 for receiving extension table leaves 3|. The dowel pins for the table leaves are received in guideways 32 carried by the frontboard 21. The table leaves can be removed from either side of the table section 2| The rear face of the backboard 29 has rigidly secured thereto a bracket 33 carrying a hinge pin 34 over which is adapted to be detachably coupled the hook 35 carried by the frontmost board 36 of the collapsible bridge supporting structure 31.

From the description so far, it can be seen that when the serving table section 2| is slid within the kneehole part of the desk, the front of the table section assumes the appearance of the large top desk drawer, andthe entire piece of furniture assumes the appearance of a kneehole desk. If preferred, small side drawers 38 can be arranged above the tiers of drawers I8 and on opposite sides of the table section.

The collapsible bridge structure 31 is arranged to fold within the kneehole part of the desk and between the rear wall I9 of the body of the desk and the removable table section 2|.

The folding bridge structure 3'I,`which supports the table leaves 3 forms an important part of my invention and also includes an inner front bridgeboard 39, which is hingedly connected to the rst frontmost bridgeboard 36 by hinges 48, which are preferably of the concealed type. Normally. the first and second front bridgeboards 36 and 39 are detachably latched together to prevent swinging movement thereof and to hold the same in a lowered inoperative position, for a purpose which will be later set forth.

A latch 4I is utilized for detachably connecting the boards 39 and 36 against swinging movement, and this latch is of a bell crank shape and is rockably mounted at its angle on a pivot 42 carried by the board 36. The latch is provided with a hook 43 for engaging over a keeper member 44 carried by the board 36. Upon rocking movement of the latch, the hooked portion can be moved out of engagement with the keeper, and, thus, bring about the desired movements of the boards 36 and 39 to a raised position. The board 39 is slotted to facilitate operation of the latch.

The boards 36 and 39, as intimated, constitute the front part of the bridge structure V31, and

embodying hingedly connecting bridgeboards 45 and 46.- The meeting edges of the boards are connected by hinges 41, which are preferably of the concealed type, and the inner end of the board 45 has rigidly secured thereto a transversely extending rock bar 48, which is slidably and rockably mounted on the body I5 of the desk directly above the tiers of drawers I8, and this bar 48 is movable from the front to the rear of the desk body.

The rear portion of the bridge structure also includes a sliding brace and lock bar 49, and this bar 49 extends through the transversely extending rock bar 48 and is received within guide tracks 59 secured tothe lower face of the bridgeboard 45. The extreme rear end of the brace and lock bar 49 has secured to its upper face a stop block 5I and an abutment board 52. The stop block 5I is adapted to engage the underface of the desk top 20 under certain conditions, as will be set forth. A weight 53 is connected by means of a flexible cable 54 with the rear end of the brace and lock bar 49, and the purpose of this weight will also be later set forth. As illustrated, the flexible cable 54 is trained over a guide pulley 54 carried by the desk structure.

The rear supporting bridge structure section and the front bridge supporting section are connected together by a novel brace device, which consists of a transversely extending strip 55 arranged in a vertical plane. This strip 55 is connected, preferably, by means of concealed hinges 56 and 51, respectively, with the front of the board 46 of the rear bridge structure section and the board 39 of the front bridge structure section. and this strip has rotatably connected therewith by means of a vertical pivot bolt 58, a brace bar 59, and this brace bar 59, in turn, carries supporting legs 60. Thus, the brace bar 59 andits legs 60 can be turned about the vertical pivot bolt 58, as will be also hereinafter more specifically set forth. It is to be noted, however, that the lower edges of the pedestals 22 and 23 and the lower ends of the legs 60 carry ball-bearing casters 6I for engaging the floor or other surface.

The underface of the table top 25 of the serving table section 2| and the side pedestals 22 and 23 carry sliding bolts or brace members 62, and these sliding brace bolts are adapted to be moved under the supporting bridge structure 31 in certain instances, as will also be more fully set forth.

In the normal use of the article of furniture A, the bridge structure 31 is collapsed within the kneehole portion of the desk body, and the serving table section 2| is also slid in the kneehole portion in front of the collapsible bridge. This position of the article of furniture is clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the article of furniture can be freely used `as a desk and assumes the appearance of a desk.

this bridge vstructure also includes a rear part In this position, the board 45 of the bridge structure is slid back on the brace and lock bar 49 until the rear end of the board 45 abuts the stop strip 52. At this particular time, the rounded ends of the rock bar 48 will lower into recessed portions 63, which will allow the free rocking movement of the rock bar 48 and permit the slight movement of the stop block 5I away from the desk top 20, so as to bring about the free swinging movement of the board 45 and the lock and brace bar 49.

When the board 45 is swung down and in the kneehole portion of the desk, its companion board 46 will be swung up into contact therewith,

and the boards 36 and 39 ofthe front section of thebridge` structure are swung into intimate contact and held in that position by the latch, and these boards 36 and 39 swing between the legs 6I] Vof the bra-ce. Thus, the bridge supporting structure Blassumes a compact shape when in its collapsed position, which will take up a` very small space. Y

If it is desiredto use the serving table alone, such as for playing bridge or the like, the drawer pulls 28 can be grasped and the table slid outwardly, and the hook 35 uncoupled from the pintle or pivot bolt 34 of the serving table section. This section can now be freely swung and moved about to a desired position.

When it is necessary to use the device as a diningtable, the hook 35 is again coupled with the pivot bolt or pintle 34, and the table section is slid straight cutaway from tne desk body. This movement will swing the board 46 on the hinge 56 and on the hinge 41, and the board 45 will slide outwardly on the brace bar 49. During this time, the rock bar 48 moves out of the notches 63 and slides forwardly and rocks on its rounded terminals. The weight 53, at this time, comes into play and facilitates the rocking of the brace and lock bar 49 on the rounded terminals of the rock bar 48, and when the rock bar 48 rides out of the notches 63, the stop block firmly engages the underface of the desk top 26 and prevents downward swinging movement of the boards 45 and 46.

If a dining table of only medium size is needed, then the table section 2| is only pulled a short distance out from the desk body, and the boards 36 and 39 are left in their collapsed position, as shown in Figure 4. The brace bolts 62 are then slid inwardly under the board 46, and the board 46 is then effectively supported at the front. This gives a rigid bridge structure, and two of the leaves 3| can be placed on top of the bridge structure between the desk and the top 25 of the table section 2|. The leaves 3| then form a continuation of the table top 25, and. the leaves and the table top 25 constitute the dining table.

Obviously, the top 29 of the desk body can be used as a serving board or the like.

If a larger dining table is needed, then the latch 4| is manipulated so as to move the hook 43 thereof out of engagement with the keeper 44, and the table section 2| is pulled further away from the desk. This will allow the swinging of the leaves 36 and 39 on their hinges 40, and the hook 35 will swing on the pivot bolt or pintle 34. As the boards 36 and 39 reach a horizontal position, the strip 59 is swung on the vertical pivot bolt 48, so as to move the legs 60 under the bridgeboard 46 and the bridgeboard 39. The brace bolts 62 are then slid outwardly under the board 36 to prevent downward movement thereof. The other leaves 3| can be removed from under the table section 2 and these leaves are then placed on the bridge structure 3l between the table top 25 and the other leaves. This forms a dining table of sufficient length for seating a large number of persons.

In restricted quarters, the elevated bridge structure and the table section 2| can be swung at any angle to the desk body l5, so that the dining table can be disposed in the most advantageous position. The swinging of the bridge structure with the leaves and table section 2| is permitted, as the rounded ends of the rock bar 46 will merely move on the guideways formed on top of the tiers of drawers I8.

To Vbring about the collapsing of thetable, the table leaves lare removed from the bridge structure 3l and are again placed under the top 25 of the table section 2|, and the bolts 62 are slid inwardly, and the strip 59 Ais turned parallel to the strip 55, with the legs 60 in parallel relation tothe pedestals 22 and 23 of the table section. The boards 36 and 39 are now swung down and are detachably connected by the latch 4|. The table section 2| is now slid back until the board 45 hits the stop 52, and the rounded terminals of the bar ride into the notches 63. At this time, the boards 45 and 46 are swung down on the hinges 4l, and. the table and the collapsed bridge structure is then lnoved back into the desk body.

Where a dining tableof Vonly medium size is needed, one of the bridge supporting structures can be eliminated, and in this instance the center supporting member 6 is also dispensed with.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that I have provided an attractive piece of furniture, which is especially useful in small homes and apartments where there is a tendency to eliminate a large dining room, and which article of furniture can be effectively used normally as a desk, and which can be opened into a large size dining table.

Changes in details may be made which do not depart from the spirit or scope of my claims, and what I claim as new is:

1. An article of furniture comprising, a main body section and a removable section normally nested within the main body section and movable at points spaced from the main body section, a collapsible bridge supporting section including a plurality of hingedly connected boards housed within the main section when in its collapsed position and movable to a horizontal position between the main section and the removable section, removable dining table leaves fitting upon the supporting bridge structure when the same is suspended between the main section and the removable section and when in its horizontal position, and means for detachably coupling certain of the boards of the bridge structure together, whereby the same will be held in an inoperative position below the top of the movable section, whereby bridge structures of different lengths can be formed to support a desired number of table leaves.

2. An article of furniture comprising, a body portion simulating a kneehole desk, a serving table section slidable within the kneehole portion of the desk and having a part thereof forming a portion of the front of the body of the desk, said serving table section being movable entirely out of the body for use independent thereof, a plurality of removable table top leaves carried by the serving table section, and a collapsible bridge structure carried by the body and normally housed within the kneehole portion of the body and adapted to be detachably connected to the table section and suspended between the body portion and table section in a horizontal plane when the table section is spaced from the body portion, whereby to provide a horizontal support for the table leaves.

3. An article of furniture comprising, a main body portion simulating the appearance of a kneehole desk, a removable serving table section slidable within the body and forming a part of the desk when in said body, said table section being movable entirely out from the desk, a

rock bar slidably and rockably mounted in the body, a lock board in said body, a collapsible supporting bridge structure including a plurality of hingedly connected boards, the innermost of said boards being secured to the rock bar and slidably mounted on the lock board, a stop block on said lock board for engaging the top of the body under certain conditions, said bridge structure being adapted to be moved to a horizontal `position out of the body, means for detachably locking the bridge structure to the table section for supporting the bridge structure in a horizontal position, and removable dining table leaves adapted to be detachably tted on the bridge structure between the top of the table and the body.

4. An article of furniture comprising, a main body portion simulating the appearance of a kneehole desk, a removable serving table section slidable Within the body and forming a part of the desk when in said body, said table section being movable entirely out from the desk, a rock bar slidably and rockably mounted in the body,

a lock board in said body, a collapsible supporting bridge structure including a plurality of hingedlyY connected boards, the innermost of said boards being secured to the rock bar and slidably mounted on the lock board, a stop block on said lock board for engaging the top of the body under certain conditions, said bridge structure being adapted to be moved to a horizontal position out of the body, means for detachably locking the bridge structure to the table section for supporting the bridge structure in a horizontal position, and removable dining table leaves adapted to be detachably tted on the bridge structure between the top of the table and the body, said bridge structure also including an intermediate support including a transversely extending brace strip mounted for swinging movement in a horizontal plane, and legs carried by the terminals thereof for movement under the bridge structure when the same is in a horizontal plane.

' ALBERT J. LUEBKE, JR. 

